Corporate Health & Safety Manager

Exeter City Council; Exeter; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Exeter City Council is seeking a Corporate Health & Safety Manager to lead the council's health and safety function, advise senior managers and ensure compliance with UK legislation. You will embed a positive safety culture across offices, sites and operational environments.

The role requires a Level 6 health and safety qualification and significant practical experience. You will shape policy, deliver mandatory training, oversee audits and incident investigations, and drive continuous

Qualifications

• Significant experience in health and safety management within a large public sector organisation.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, risk management and audit processes.
• A recognised Level 6 health and safety qualification (Degree, NEBOSH Diploma, NCRQ Diploma, NVQ/SVQ Level 6 or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, expert advice and practical support on all health and safety aspects.
• Lead on council-wide corporate training: induction, mandatory training, toolbox talks, first aid and fire safety.
• Oversee compliance monitoring, performance reporting, trend analysis and continuous improvement.

Skills

Health & safety leadership

Risk management

UK H&S legislation

Education

Level 6 H&S qualification

Job description

Why this role matters

Health and safety is fundamental to delivering excellent services and creating a workplace where people can thrive. As Corporate Health & Safety Manager, you will act as the Council's lead competent person for health and safety, ensuring we meet our statutory responsibilities while promoting a positive, proactive and practical safety culture across the organisation. Working across a diverse range of services, from offices and community settings to operational environments, you will influence how health and safety is managed, understood and embedded throughout the Council. Your expertise will help protect our employees, support managers to manage risk effectively and ensure safe services for our communities.

What you'll be doing

You’ll provide professional leadership, expert advice and practical support on all aspects of health and safety, working closely with Senior Management Board, managers, employees and trade unions to ensure compliance with legislation and best practice. You’ll help shape policy, develop standards, monitor performance and drive continuous improvement across the organisation. A key part of your role will be leading on the health and safety elements of the Council's corporate training programme, working closely with the Learning & Development Manager to develop and deliver induction, mandatory training, Toolbox Talks, first aid provision and fire safety competencies. You’ll help ensure colleagues have the knowledge, skills and confidence to work safely and effectively manage risk. You’ll act as corporate lead for Assessnet and other health and safety systems, overseeing compliance monitoring, performance reporting, trend analysis and continuous improvement activity. You’ll also lead corporate arrangements relating to DSE assessments, lone working systems, employee screening programmes and wider health and safety initiatives. You’ll establish and oversee programmes of audits, inspections and monitoring activity, support investigations into accidents and incidents, ensure corrective actions are implemented and drive learning from outcomes across the organisation. Alongside this, you’ll build effective relationships with regulators, external partners and professional networks, helping the Council remain informed, compliant and forward-thinking in its approach to health and safety. You’ll bring significant experience in health and safety management together with a recognised Level 6 health and safety qualification, such as a Degree, NEBOSH Diploma, NCRQ Diploma, NVQ/SVQ Level 6 or equivalent experience. You’ll have a strong understanding of UK health and safety legislation, risk management, policy development, audit processes and performance monitoring. You’ll be confident influencing and advising colleagues at all levels, including senior leaders, and capable of leading organisational improvement initiatives. We’re looking for someone who can translate legislation and technical requirements into practical solutions, build positive relationships, challenge constructively where required and support managers to create safe, healthy and legally compliant workplaces. If you’re passionate about creating safer workplaces, driving continuous improvement and making a visible impact across a complex organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

At Exeter City Council we are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. To support this commitment we will strive to implement reasonable adjustments to support any members of our communities who face barriers in recruitment processes, irrespective of the reason. We are also proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.